Crane Operator License and Certification Requirements

There is a difference between a crane operator license and a CCO certification.  Requirement of a crane operator license is considered "credentialing" and is usually a mandatory governmental requirement in order to practice a certain profession. Licensing most likely includes examination and completion of training.

Certification is a voluntary process that is conducted by a non-governmental agency that recognizes individuals for their skills and knowledge. Certification is not always considered mandatory unless a state or city adopts the certification process as the basis for a licensing program or if an employer chooses to  require it as a basis for employment. In comparison to a crane operator license, certification is a voluntary way for crane operators to show that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to safely perform their job duties.

Effective November 2010, crane operators and signalpersons will be required to have certification by an accredited organization, like the NCCCO, or a qualified and audited employer training program.  Before that, the NCCCO certification was not required to be a crane operator, however many employers required certification for their employees as a way of reducing workplace accidents and showing their due diligence for safety.

Below are the 18 states and 6 cities in the United States that have licensing requirements for crane operators.

States that License Crane Operators
California *
Connecticut
Hawaii *
Maryland *
Massachusetts
Minnesota *
Montana *
Nevada *
New Jersey *
New Mexico *
New York
North Carolina *
Oregon
Pennsylvania *
Rhode Island
Utah *
Washington*
West Virginia*
       
Cities that License Crane Operators
Chicago
New Orleans *
New York City *
Omaha *
Philadelphia *
Washington, DC

*Requires or recognize NCCCO certification

For more information about a crane operator license or licensing requirements for your state, please visit the NCCCO's official website.